Particle therapy system

Abstract

A particle therapy system is provided. The particle therapy system for particle therapy of a target volume of a patient includes a particle accelerator for furnishing high-energy particles; an adjusting device that adjusts a size of an irradiation volume; a control system for triggering the adjusting device, the control system outputting a control signal to the adjusting device. The control signal adjusts the three-dimensional size of the irradiation volume, so that during a time period in which the motion can be stopped, the entire target volume can be irradiated. The particle therapy system also including a scanner, which is triggerable in such a manner that the entire target volume with the irradiation volume can be scanned within the time period.

1 . A particle therapy system for particle therapy of a target volume of a patient, the target volume being subjected to motion, comprising:
 a particle accelerator that is operable to provide high-energy particles;   an adjusting device that is operable to adjust a size of an irradiation volume, in which particles interact with the tissue for the therapy;   a control system that is operable to trigger the adjusting device and output a control signal to the adjusting device, which signal adjusts the three-dimensional dimensions of the irradiation volume, so that during a time period in which the motion can be stopped or slowed down, the entire target volume can be irradiated; and   a scanner that is triggerable so that the entire target volume with the irradiation volume can be scanned within the time period.   
   
   
       2 . The particle therapy system as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting device includes an adaptation device that adapts an energy distribution of the particle beam applied, the energy distribution determining a distal extent of the irradiation volume. 
   
   
       3 . The particle therapy system as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting device includes a high-energy beam guide that adapts the lateral dimensions of the particle beam applied by beam-guiding optics. 
   
   
       4 . The particle therapy system as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting device is operable to adjust the irradiation volume to a distal-to-lateral ratio of the dimensions of greater than or equal to 2:1. 
   
   
       5 . The particle therapy system as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting device is operable to adjust the irradiation volume to an extent in a direction of the beam incidence that has at least 10% of a distal extent of the target volume. 
   
   
       6 . The particle therapy system as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting device is operable to adjust the irradiation volume to an extent in the direction of the beam incidence in the range of approximately 3 mm and 25 mm. 
   
   
       7 . The particle therapy system as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting device is operable to adjust the irradiation volume to a lateral extent in the range of approximately 5 mm and 10 mm. 
   
   
       8 . The particle therapy system as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the adaptation device is a degrader. 
   
   
       9 . The particle therapy system as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the scanner is a grid scanner or a wobbling device. 
   
   
       10 . The particle therapy system as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the particle accelerator is operable to adjust the energy for the irradiation of a plurality of energy layers within one time period. 
   
   
       11 . The particle therapy system as defined by  claim 1 , comprising one or more adjusting devices that are operable to adjust the energy for the irradiation of a plurality of energy layers. 
   
   
       12 . A scanning method for the particle therapy of a target volume of a patient, the target volume being subjected to motion, with a particle beam, wherein an irradiation volume in which particles interact with the tissue for the therapy is scanned over the target volume, the method comprising:
 stopping or slowing down the motion of the target volume for a time period to create a quasi-stationary target volume;   adjusting the irradiation volume to a three-dimensional extent that allows irradiation during the time period of the entire volume to be irradiated;   scanning the entire target volume that is to be irradiated with the irradiation volume in the time period.   
   
   
       13 . The method as defined by  claim 12 , comprising: adjusting the irradiation volume to a distal-to-lateral ratio of the dimensions of greater than or equal to 2:1. 
   
   
       14 . The method as defined by  claim 13 , wherein the distal extent of the irradiation volume is greater than or equal to one-third the distal extent of the target volume. 
   
   
       15 . The method as defined by  claim 12 , wherein the distal extent of the irradiation volume is in the range of approximately 5 mm and 25 mm. 
   
   
       16 . The method as defined by  claim 12 , wherein the lateral extent of the irradiation volume is in the range of approximately 3 mm to 10 mm. 
   
   
       17 . The method as defined by  claim 12 , wherein scanning the entire target volume to be irradiated comprises scanning at least one energy layer with the irradiation volume. 
   
   
       18 . The method as defined by  claim 12 , wherein the scanning method is a grid scanning method or a wobbling method. 
   
   
       19 . The particle therapy system as defined by  claim 8 , wherein the adaptation device is a ripple filter.